Pack-off tool



Dec. 5, 1967 c. P. LAMB ETAL PACK-OFF TOOL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 13, 1965 S u a M 0km w W A 2 v v m A V/ l 1 4 m ka .wm m uvmw Q A/fi/Akf H mm M M v 2 km a c [X/ m w Us m .M

Dec. 5, 1967 c p, LAMB ET AL 3,356,139

PACK-OFF TOOL Filed July 13; 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 (bar/em f? Zam W////0'/77 A. flUd/E! INVENTORS 131/9 'gmw ATTOR/VE VJ United States Patent Oiiice 3,356,139 PACK-OFF TOOL Charles P. Lamb, Dallas, and William A. Dudley, Garland, Tex., assignors to Merla Tool Corporation, Garland, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed July 13, 1965, Ser. No. 471,618 10 Claims. (Cl. 166-119) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE This application shows spaced packers with a tool therebetween, such as a gas lift valve, and hold-down device which is set and removed by jarring with wire line equipment.

This invention relates to a pack-off tool including a well tool which may be run in a well on a wire line. In one important aspect it relates to a new hold-down tool for holding the pack-off tool in packer-setting position.

It is frequently desirable to run a well tool on a wire line and to set such tool in a well between two packers. For instance, a gas lift valve may desirably be run in a tubing and positioned adjacent holes interconnecting the tubing and easing. When so positioned, if packers are set above and below the tool, gas may be introduced through the hole in the tubing and through the gas lift valve to lift oil in the well in the conventional manner.

Desirably, packers utilized in such hold-down tools are of the type which are set by a downward jarring action on the tool with conventional jars. As packers are resilient, they tend to bounce back to their original condition after each jarring action.

Well tools straddled by packers have been known for many years. See the Warren Patent No. 549,591. However, this type of packing could not be set with jars. The

'Ta'mplen Patent No. 3,100,536 is an example of a well tool straddled by packers which can be set by jars, but it has the disadvantage that pressures are effective on the tool and upon an inversion in pressures in the well the tool may readily be unset because the packer is held in set position by the relationship of the tubing and casing pres sures It is an object of this invention to provide a pack-off tool in which mechanical means is provided for holding the packers in set position.

Another object is to provide a pack-oft tool in which the packers cannot rebound after each successive blow with the jars.

Another object is to provide a pack-off tool in which a well tool is straddled by packers and in which the packers are held in set position by slips which are released by an upward force being applied to the tool.

Another object is to provide a pack-off tool of the character described inwhich slips are used to lock the tool in operating position in which the slips are automatically set and reset with each successive blow of the jars so that the packers cannot rebound.

Another object is to provide a pack-H5 tool of the type described in which slips are utilized to hold the tool in operating position and in which the slips are positively held in disengaged position during running of the tool and then may be set with a downward jarring force, and thereafter may be released and the tool withdrawn from the hole by an upward force applied to the tool.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawings, the specification and the claims.

In the drawings, wherein illustrative embodiments of this invention are shown,

FIGURE 1 is a view partially in cross-section and partly in elevation, illustrating schematically a pack-01f Patented Dec. 5, 1957 tool constructed in accordance with this invention located in a well in a position to provide for gas lift of oil standing in the tubing above the tool;

FIGURE 2 is a view in vertical cross-section through the upper section of the hold-down portion of the packoif tool of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2A is a continuation of FIGURE 2 and illustrates the lower section of the hold-down tool;

FIGURE 23 is a continuation of FIGURE 2A and illustrates the upper packer of the pack-01f tool;

FIGURE 2C is a view in vertical cross-section through the lower packer of the tool, and the structure shown in this figure is connected to the section housing the Well tool which in turn depends from the structure of FIG- URE 2B;

FIGURE 3 is a view in quarter-section of a modified form of the tool illustrating the tool being run in the well;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, illustrating the tool of FIGURE 3 in set and locked position;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 illustrating the tool being withdrawn from the well;

FIGURE 6 is a view along the lines 66 of FIGURE 3; and,

FIGURE 7 is a view URE 3.

Referring now to FIG-URE l, the pack-off tool is shown in set position in a well which has a casing 10 perforated at 11 to permit oil to enter into the casing. A tubing 12 is provided in the well and a packer 13 seals between the casing and the tubing at the lower end of the tubing.

At the upper end of the well, an inlet 14 to the casingtubing annulus provides for introduction of gas into the well and an outlet 15 is provided for egress of the gas and the oil lifted thereby.

The tubing is perforated at '16 and the well tool of this invention is utilized to position a gas lift valve adjacent the perforations 16. The gas lift valve (not shown) is located within the housing 17 and may take any conventional form. The gas lift valve controls flow of gas into the tubing through ports 17a in housing 17. It will be appreciated that the entire well tool has an open bore therethrough to permit oil to rise in the tubing. Gas introduced through the ports 16 into the bore through the tool will lift this oil to the surface.

A tubing stop indicated generally at 18 is provided in the tubing to serve as a stop for the well tool of this invention. The well tool includes a lower packer section indicated generally at 19 below the gas lift valve section 17, and a second packer section indicated generally at along the lines 7-7 of FIG- v20 above the gas lift valve section 17. When these two packers are set, the gas introduced into the tubing-casing annulus is thus confined and forced to enter the tubing through the gas lift valve within the section 17 of the well tool.

Above the upper packer section 20 there is provided a hold-down tool indicated generally at 21. When the holddown tool 21 is set, it holds the packer sections 19 and 21] in compressed condition so that their packer elements are sealed against the tubing. In other words, the packer elements are held in compression by virtue of the packoif tool being held between the tubing stop 18 and the hold-down tool 21.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 2, 2A 2B and 20 wherein an illustrative form of this invention, minus the gas lift valve and its supporting section 17, is illustrated.

The tool includes a lower body section indicated generally at 22, an upper body section indicated generally at 23, and a hold-down tool indicated generally at 24.

g The elongate body provided by the upper and lower body sections has two telescoping sections with packer means thereon which are set by shortening of the telescoping sections, and released by the lengthening of the telescoping sections. Reference is made to FIGURE 2B, which illustrates a preferred form of body and packer section.

The lower body 22 includes an end stop 25 on its lower end which cooperates with the tubing stop 18 of FIGURE 1 to limit downward movement of the tool. Threaded into the upper end of the end stop 25 is a seal retainer 26 which also forms a part of the body 22. The lower body includes the seal expander 27 which telescopes in the seal retainer 26 and is slideable therein. A suitable seal, such as O-ring 28, seals between seal retainer 26 and the seal expander 27. The body 22 is completed by the lower adapter 29, which is threaded into the upper end of the seal expander 27. It will be noted that a bore, indicated generally at 31, extends through the entire lower body section to permit well fluids to rise through the lower body section.

Suitable means is provided on the lower body section to seal between the body and the well tubing into which the tool is run. This seal may be provided by any desired type or form of packer element which is set by shortening of the lower body section. In the form shown in FIGURE 2C, a center ring 32 is provided about the reduced diameter section 27a of the seal expander 27. This center ring has a plurality of radial passages 33 therethrough to permit fluid to pass through the center ring and to the seal expander. Preferably, the center ring has a plurality of longitudinal passageways 34 therealong to permit fluid to readily move above and below the center ring.

Suitable seals are provided above and below the center ring 32, and may be provided by the upper seal member 35 and the lower seal member 36. These seals may be described as generally cup-shaped in form with one lip of the upper seal secured to the center ring by the retainer ring 37, and one lip of the lower seal ring 36 secured to the center ring by retainer ring 38. It will be noted that seal 35 and seal 36 are provided with lip sections 39 and 41, respectively, for sealing engagement with the seal expander 27. With this construction, it will be appreciated that fluids may enter through the center ring bore 33 and pass into the annulus 42 in the upper seal ring and the annulus 43 in the lower seal ring to exert a sealing pressure urging the outer legs of the seal rings into engagement with the tubing in which the tool is run.

It will be noted that the upper extremity of the seal retainer 26 is provided with an upwardly facing shoulder 44 and the seal expander is provided by the reduced diameter section 27w with a downwardly facing shoulder 45. The two seal members 35 and 36 are positioned between these two confronting shoulders. Downward movement of the seal expander relative to the seal retainer will thus result in compression of the two seals 35 and 36 to force them radially outwardly into engagement with the wall of tubing 12. Thereafter differential pressure lengthwise of the tool will result in increased sealing force of one of the seal members against the tubing.

It is desired that the two packer sections 19 and 20 be compressed equal amounts so that the two seals are urged against the tubing with equal force. For this purpose, a stop 46 is provided on the lower end of the seal expander 27, and cooperates with an abutment surface 25a in the end stop 25 to limit the degree of telescoping of the seal expander 27 in the seal retainer 26, and thus the degree to which the two seals 35 and 36 will be expanded. When the packer section is expanded the stop 46 strikes the lower end 26a of the seal retainer and thus limits movement of the seal expander and seal retainer apart.

Referring to FIGURE 2B, it will be noted that the upper body and its associated seal are identical with the lower body shown in FIGURE 2C, except that the end stop 25 is replaced by an adapter 47 which is provided with threads for securing it to the well tool carrier 17 shown in FIGURE 1. As the several parts shown in FIG- URE 2B are identical to those shown in FIGURE 20, and operate in the identical manner, they are given the same numbers as the parts in FIGURE 2C and will not be further described.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 2 and 2A, wherein the hold-down portion of the pack-off tool is illustrated. The tool includes a mandrel 48 which includes the fishing head 49 on the upper end thereof. Hold-down means are provided on the mandrel for holding the packers in set position. The hold-down means includes a collar 51 slideable on mandrel 48. The hold-down means also includes slips and expander means therefor, one on the collar and the other on the mandrel 48 which when set lock the tool to the tubing wall. As shown, the collar 51 is secured directly to the seal expander 31 of the upper packer section. The collar 51 has an anvil 52 therein with which the hammer 53 carried on the lower end of mandrel 48 cooperates with each jarring action to transmit the jarring force to the collar and thence to the two packer sections to set the packers.

The collar 51 carries a slip expander lock 54 on its upper end which in turn carries a plurality of slip expanders 55. The slip expanders are continuous about the mandrel 48 and may be segmented longitudinally into as many slip expanders as desired. It will be noted that the connection between the expander lock 54 and the slip expanders 55 is provided by an articulating connection 56 to permit the slip expander means to move inwardly as will be hereinafter explained. Slideably mounted on the mandrel 48 about the slip expander means 55 is the slip means indicated generally at 57. The slip means 57 includes a solid carrier ring 57a at the upper end of the slip means and a plurality of longitudinally segmented slips 57b at the lower end thereof. The slips 57b are provided by longitudinal slots cut in the slip means 57 to permit the slips 57b to be expanded outwardly into engagement with the tubing.

Pins 55a on slip expanders 55 extend into slots between slips 57b and hold the slip expanders in proper alignment.

Means are provided for setting the slips once the slip means and slip expander means are released and for permitting the slip means and slip expander means to be released on each jarring action and immediately reset to prevent rebound due to compression of the several packers. In the form illustrated, operation of the jars will drive the slip expanders out from under the slips to compress the several packers and the slips will immediately be driven back onto the slip expanders to thus release the slips and expanders on each jar and then immediately reset them to prevent rebound.

The preferred means for setting and resetting the slips is provided by a compression spring 58 held between the shoulder 57c provided on the upper end of the slip means 57 and the shoulder 490 on the lower end of the fishing head. The spirng 58 is in compression and thus tends to constantly urge the slips downwardly onto the slip expander.

The slip means and the slip expander means preferably are held in extended or unset condition during running of the hold-down tool and for this purpose the slips 57 are held in upper position by an upper stop ring 59 which is releasably secured to the mandrel 48 by shear pin means 61. To prevent downward movement of the slip expander means from under the slips, shear pin means 62 releasably secures the mandrel to the collar 51. In other designs where downward movement of the slip expander and consequent engagement of the slips with the tubing wall would not be objectionable, the shear pin means 62 may be omitted. After the tool has reached the tubing stop and jarring begins, the pins 61 and 62 are sheared to permit the mandrel to be driven down to engage the core hammer 53 with the anvil surface 52 and to permit the spring 58 to exert its setting force on the slips 57.

In order for spring 58 to constantly exert its force tending to set the slips, a stop ring 63 is provided on mandrel 48 to limit upward movement of the mandrel .the fingers to be sprung mandrel and relative to collar 51 and thus prevent collapse of slip expanders 55. When it is desired to remove the tool from the well, an upward pull is exerted on the fishing head to shear the pin 64 which secures the stop ring 63 to the mandrel 48 and thus permit the mandrel to move upwardly until the upper end of the core hammer 53 strikes the stop ring 63 and moves it into engagement with the lower end of the collar 51. Upon this upward movement, the compression in spring 58 is reduced and a reduced diameter section 43a of the mandrel moves under the free end of the slip expanders 55 to permit them to drop into the reduced section 48a. The slip expander is rendered ineffective to hold the slips 57-1) against the tubing to thus release the tool from the tubing wall. At this time, shoulder 60 on mandrel 48 limits downward movement of slips 57. This permits the packer sections to expand longitudinally and the tool to be withdrawn from the hole. It will be appreciated that if the mandrel has suflicient Weight, the stop ring could be omitted.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5. In

FIGURE 3, the tool is shown in its running position, in FIGURE 4 the tool is shown in set position, and in FIGURE 5 the tool is shown being withdrawn from the well. i

The tool is identical with the tool shown in FIGURES 2 through 2C with the exception of the slip expander and minor details. In this form, the slip expander 65 is a single integral piece to prevent any possibility of the slip expanders projecting into the tubing and hanging up. The slip expander 65 is threaded to the expander carrier 66 which is substantially identical to the expander lock 54 except that threads are provided on its upper end instead of the articulating connection 56. The slip expander is made from a single tubular member as illustrated in FIGURE 7 and includes the base section65a and. the several expander fingers 6512 on which the frusto-conically shaped expander surfaces 65c are carried. From FIGURE 7 it will be noted that slots are provided between each of the fingers. 65b to permit freely inwardly and outwardly.

The dotted lines showing the slip fingers 65b in FIG- URE 5 illustrates the position of the fingers 6511 before they are installed over the mandrel 148.

During the running of the tool shown in FIGURE 3, the spring 158 is held against actuation of the slips 157 by the shear pin 161. The collar is held in position on the mandrel to prevent upward movement of the slip expander 65 by the'shear pin 162. When the tool is in place, downward jarring will shear pins 161 and 162 to permit the spring 158 to exert its slip-setting force and to permit the mandrel to be driven downwardly to strike the upper packer body. r

As each succeeding blow is struck by the jars, the packer bodies are driven downwardly to set the packers. On each blow the slip expanders are driven downwardly and as soon as they are retracted from beneath the slips 157 the spring 158 immediately drives the slips downwardly to reset the slips and prevent any rebound.

During retrieval of the tool an upward pull on the mandrel 148 moves the mandrel upwardly as shown in FIG- URE 5. Suitable jarring action shears the pin 163 and permits the mandrel to move upwardly relative to the collar to a position at which the reduced diameter section 148a of mandrel 148 moves beneath the slip expanders; and the expanders, due to their inherent resiliency, snap into this reduced diameter section to release the slips from the Wall of the tubing. At the same time, the shoulder 160 on the mandrel engages the slips and prevents any further downward movement thereof. As the slips are now completely free from the tubing, the entire tool may be removed from the well.

From the above, it will be appreciated that all of the objectsof this invention have been attained. The tool may be run without a fear of pressure inversions as the packers ing from the spirit are held in set position by the coaction of the hold-down tool and tubing stop. It will be appreciated that the form of packers used will seal in either direction, and, if a pressure inversion is experienced, oil in the tubing will be prevented from flowing into the casing past the packers and the. well may be shut in without necessity of thereafter unloading the casing before gas lifting may begin.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that instead of securing the packers to the gas lift valve carrier and to the setting tool by direct threaded connection, that any suitable safety joint might be provided therebetween which would release upon an upward pull to permit removal of the several sections of the tool in pieces. This would be an advantage where the tool is to remain in the well for a very long time, as it might become stuck and would be easier removed a section at a time.

It will be appreciated that by providing the hold-down tool in a form which prevents rebound due to compression of the packers, an operator can be certain that operation of the jars will cause setting of the packers. As the slips and expanders are positively held in inoperative position until jarring begins, there is no danger of hanging up with the tool or going into the hole. As the release provisions are also positive, there is little danger of any problem coming out of the hole once the tool in unstuck from the tubing wall.

While a particular form of packer has been illustrated, it will be appreciated that any form of packer may be utilized as the use of the separate hold-down member will always insure that the packers are in sealing engagement with the tubing wall.

It will be appreciated that the function of the shear pins could readily be provided by any means which is actuated by vertical movement. For instance, a simple latch means could be provided to perform the function of the shear pins with the latch actuated by a stinger extending down through the tool which would engage the tubing stop, and-thereafter perform the function of the shear pins.

In considering the shear pins, it might be noted that if the tool becomes hung in the hole While being run in, that the jars might be used to drive the tool on through the obstruction. In this event, an upward jar would be imposed on both the shear pins 62 and 64. On the other hand, a downward jar would only be imposed across shear pin 62. The weight of the tool provides a downward force which reduces the effectiveness of the downward jar, and thus fairly equal jarring can be exerted in both up and down directions without resulting in shearing of pins 62 and 64.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in. the size, shape and materials, as Well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departof the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A pack-off tool comprising,

an elongate body having two telescoping sections,

packer means on each telescoping section set by shortening of said telescoping section,

' a well tool between said telescoping sections,

hold-down means including slips attached to the upper end of the body for holding the tool in packersetting position,

means holding said slips in unset position during running of the tool and releasing said slips upon a downward jarring force being applied to the tool,

and setting means permitting unsetting of said slips upon succeeding jarring forces being applied to the tool and immediately resetting said slips after each jarring force.

2. A pack-off tool comprising,

an elongate body having two telescoping sections,

packer means on each telescoping section set by shortening of said telescoping section,

a well tool between said telescoping sections,

hold-down means including slips attached to the upper end of the body for holding the tool in packersetting position,

means holding said slips in unset position during running of the tool and releasing said slips upon a downward jarring force being applied to the tool,

setting means permitting unsetting of said slips upon succeeding jarring forces being applied to the tool and immediately resetting said slips after each jarring force,

and means rendering said last named means ineiiective and releasing said slips upon an upward force being applied to the upper end of the tool.

3. A hold-down tool comprising,

a tubular mandrel,

means including slips for anchoring the tool in a well means positively holding said slips in completely unset position during running of the tool and releasing said slips upon a downward jarring force being applied to the tool,

and setting means permitting unsetting of said slips upon succeeding jarring forces being applied to the tool and immediately resetting said slips after each jarring force.

4. A hold-down tool comprising,

a tubular mandrel,

means including slips for anchoring the tool in a well we means holding said slips in unset position during running of the tool and releasing said slips upon a downward jarring force being applied to the tool, setting means permitting unsetting of said slips upon succeeding jarring forces being applied to the tool and immediately resetting said slips after each jarring force, and means rendering said setting means ineffective and releasing said slips upon an upward force being applied to the mandrel. 5. A hold-down tool comprising, a tubular mandrel, a collar slideably mounted on said mandrel, slip means and slip expander means mounted one on said collar and the other slideable on said mandrel, shear means on said mandrel holding said slip means and said slip expander means in spaced unset relationship, resilient setting means urging said slip means and slip expander means together to set said slips upon shearing of said shear means, additional shearing means limiting upward movement of said mandrel relative to said collar after said slip means and slip expander means have been set, and means releasing said slip means and slip expander means from set position upon shearing of said last mentioned shear means and upward movement of said mandrel relative to said collar. 6. A pack-oil tool comprising, an elongate body having two packer sections, packer seal means on each section set by shortening said packer seal means, a well tool between said packer sections, hold-down means including slips attached to the upper end of the body for holding the tool in packer-setting position, means holding said slips in unset position during running of the tool and releasing said slips upon a vertical force being applied to said slip-holding means, and setting means permitting unsetting of said slips upon succeeding jarring forces being applied to the tool and immediately resetting said slips after each jarring force.

7. A hold-down tool comprising,

a tubular mandrel,

a collar slideably mounted on said mandrel,

slip means and slip expander means mounted one on said collar and the other slideable on said mandrel,

shear means on said mandrel pinning each of said slip means and said slip expander means to said mandrel in spaced unset relationship,

resilient setting means urging said slip means and slip expander means together to set said slips upon shearing of said shear means,

additional shear-ing means limiting upward movement of said mandrel relative to said collar after said slip means and slip expander means have been set,

and means releasing said slip means and slip expander means from set position upon shearing of said last mentioned shear means and upward movement of said mandrel relative to said collar.

8. A hold-down tool comprising,

a tubular mandrel,

a collar slideably mounted on said mandrel,

slip means and slip expander means mounted on said collar and the other slideable on said mandrel,

shear means on said mandrel pinning each of said slip means and said slip expander means to said mandrel in spaced unset relationship,

resilient setting means urging said slip means and slip expander means together to set said slips upon shearing of said shear means,

additional shearing means limiting upward movement of said mandrel relative to said collar after said slip means and slip expander means have been set,

and a reduced diameter portion on said mandrel which is moveable into a position underlying said slip means to permit the slip expander means and slip means to contract and unset the slips upon shearing of said last mentioned shear means and upward movement of said mandrel relative to said collar.

9. A hold-down tool comprising,

a tubular mandrel having a hammer thereon,

a collar slidably mounted on said mandrel, and having an anvil cooperative with said hammer,

slip means and slip expander means mounted one on said collar and the other slidable on said mandrel,

means holding said slips in unset position and said hammer spaced from said anvil during running of the tool and releasing said slips and said hammer and anvil upon a downward jarring force being applied to the tool,

and setting means permitting unsetting of said slips upon succeeding jarring forces being applied to the mandrel and immediate resetting of said slips after each jarring force.

10. A hold-down tool comprising,

a tubular mandrel having a hammer on the lower end thereof,

a collar slidably mounted on said mandrel and having an anvil cooperative with said hammer to limit downward movement of asid hammer relative to said anvil,

first shear means lirnting upward movement of said mandrel relative to said collar,

slip means and slip expander means mounted on one said collar and the other slidable on said mandrel,

second shear means on said mandrel holding said slip means and said slip expander means in spaced unset relationship,

resilient setting means compressed between a stop on the mandrel and the one of the slip means and slip expander means slidable on said mandrel,

said resilient setting means urging said slip means and said slip expander means together to set said slips upon shearing of said second shear means,

and means releasing said slip means and slip expander means from set position upon shearing of said first 9 10 shear means and upward movement of said mandrel 2,192,336 3/1940 Thornhill 166-137 X relative to said collar. 2,274,940 3/ 1942 Stoddard 166-137 X 2,367,733 1/1945 Munn 166137 X Referemes Cited 2,901,046 8/1959 Webber 166140 X UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 3,024,845 3/1962 Conrad 166-134 802,880 3/1905 Phillips 166137 1,111,478 9/1914 Mack 166 137 CHARLES E. O CONNELL, Przmary Examiner.

1,919,853 7/1933 Mack 166-137X DAVID HBROWNEMmiHer- 

3. A HOLD-DOWN TOOL COMPRISING, A TUBULAR MANDREL, MEANS INCLUDING SLIPS FOR ANCHORING THE TOOL IN A WELL PIPE, MEANS POSITIVELY HOLDING SAID SLIPS IN A COMPLETELY UNSET POSITION DURING RUNNING OF THE TOLL AND RELEASING SAID SLIPS UPON A DOWNWARD JARRING FORCE BEING APPLIED TO THE TOOL, 